Hello from Rwanda!!
Our last week in Burundi was awesome. A highlight of mine was being able to go to an international school, where they spoke English, and help out for a few days. I spent most of the time in the reception class, ages 4-5, which I loved. I also got to help in the art class and really enjoyed that too. The children were awesome and I was amazed to see the different nations represented in just one class, including a few children with english parents! I helped out with crafts, maths, learning the word 'add' and I also got to read them some stories. I was asked to pick a book to read on the second morning we were there, by this time I was pretty comfortable sitting infront of them and leading the session. So, I picked Pinochio and was enjoying telling the story, I got to the part of Pinocchio being kidnapped when the teacher comes up to me and whispers that I need to finish now. I definitely wasn't expecting that! I couldn't leave them hanging, thinking Pinochio was still kidnapped! So I flicked to the end of the story and all of a sudden, 'YEY PINOCCHIO IS SAVED!' And the children all cheered. Think I managed to get away with that, until they actually read the story, they won't know I missed out so much.
So, apart from loving the school experience, we also got to go and do some more church services & we finally, on our last day in Burundi, did some well needed souvenier shopping! We also had a fun night at the base, with the new DTS students and staff, where everyone was required to dress crazy. Some of the outfits were hilarious! I went for the standard, these colours don't match at all, that will do!
So on the 30th we left Bujumbura & set of on our 6 hour trip back to Rwanda. This time we managed to get a much bigger bus, so there was plenty of leg room, not that I need much anyway! The bus journey was pleasant and we arrived at the base early evening. The past week and a half have been great. We've been able to get to know other teams that are staying at the base, which has been cool.
We've been able to explore around the base & in the city, we discovered a lovely cafe in the centre which does an amazing hot chocolate, we had the opportunity to visit the Genocide memorial, an amazing & heartbreaking experience at the same time. The same day we visited a group of widows who had lost their husbands due to HIV or in the genocide. We visiting the African Bagel Co-Op, a cafe that makes amazing Bagels & Doughnuts! We also got to take motorbike taxi's from town and to several places, I was pretty nervous to begin with and told my driver to go slow, to which he simply replied 'jump on!' I ended up loving the ride and wanted to do it straight again after! Driving through the city is amazing as there are so many hills which give amazing views over Kigali. We had an interesting ride to church up a steep hill in a taxi that looked like it might fall apart at any moment, and when it wouldn't start again we ended up walking the rest of the way! Aubrey and I got to do the sunday school with a big group of children, we told the story of Noah's Ark & I mimed, they found my animal impressions pretty amusing. We also did a house visit to a woman with HIV and got to encourage her & pray for her. We helped out on the base by painting one of the staff houses & today we're meeting with some youth. So all in all its been a great week and a bit so far in this beautiful country!
We're leaving Kigali on the 20th and heading to a village for a few weeks to live with locals and experience village life. We then return on the 3rd and stay another 2 weeks in Kigali before heading back to Switzerland. I know I say this all the time, but time really is flying by. I'm looking forward to seeing the other outreach team when we get back to Switzerland and then my family and friends back at home! I'm trying not to think of it too much, though, as I don't want to miss what God is doing here and now!
Thank you for all your support and I'll try to update you again soon.
Love Em x
